possible for a niehgbor to use my internet?

[dangerousmovingunit]

hello, is it possible for one of my neighbors to secretly use my connection? i have a wi fi router so i was wondering. also if its possible can someone tell me how to check and how to protect my connection from intruders?

 

[Motoxrdude]

Its possible. You can encrypt the connection by using the setup cd that the wireless router came with. There are ways to check, but its not really worth it.

 

[dangerousmovingunit]

888.1 Kbp i just checked my internet speed..is that speed good for 2 computers?

 

[DCIScouts]

Well, it depends on what you're going to be using it for... Regular internet usage (e-mail and such) that should be fine, gaming and the like probably would still be ok, just not necessarily ideal.

 

[ezefosure]

Yes. It's very possible for your neighbor to use your internet connection, regardless of the amount of encryption you have on it.
However, how many people would know what they are doing when they are faced with encryption and want to go around it? Also, even if one of your neighbors actually able to hack into your connection and use it, how far away are they? How great do you think their signal would be? Do you think they would become dependent on your connection? And last but not least, why would it even be a problem?

If you really don't want a neighbor using your connection, turn off the router whenever it's not in use. If a neighbor has become dependent on your connection, the unreliability of it being available would most likely discourage them from continuing to steal your bandwich.

 

[Crypto]

enable MAC address filtering (http://www.marquette.edu/pages/home/its/help/network/wireless/mac/) , Turn off the SSID broadcast, and encrypt.
All of this is done in the router configuration page.
Why not let the neighbors use it? This is a no-brainer....WELL, it uses up your bandwith slowing your speeds and leaves your entire network vulnerable. Besides, It's not cheap, let the parasites get their own.

 

[Trizoy]

enable MAC address filtering (http://www.marquette.edu/pages/home/its/help/network/wireless/mac/) , Turn off the SSID broadcast, and encrypt.
All of this is done in the router configuration page.
Why not let the neighbors use it? This is a no-brainer....WELL, it uses up your bandwith slowing your speeds and leaves your entire network vulnerable. Besides, It's not cheap, let the parasites get their own.

Excellent post.

 

[ezefosure]

I know that other people using your connection slows your bandwich but typicaly, the houses are far enough that they wont be able to get such a great signal, most of the time, right? Unless they are their houses, on the sidealk, with their adaptors antennas aimed right at the router....

And yea, not broadcasting the SSID would probably work. I know my router can't disable that. And as long as it's broadcasted, it's possible to hack into the router regardless. I kno, I've seen it done. My frend comes over wih his laptop all the time. I never have to let him into the network. He does it himself. lol. And even when my other computers have trouble accessing the router, he never does. Or at leats not for long.

 

[shenry]

Excellent post.

dang straight